Reports to: Executive Director

Classification: Full-time/Exempt

Compensation: $81,000 - $91,000

Benefits and Features:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage employer paid for employee up to $450 per month
• Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, 401 (k) with matching
• 80-216 hours paid time off per year, based on seniority, 48 hours paid sick time per year
• 9 paid holidays, Monthly hikes

Position Summary

The Ecology Director is pivotal in formulating short- and long-term strategic management blueprints while actively managing the execution and evaluation of Nature Collective’s habitat restoration initiatives. This leadership position oversees a team of up to 10 employees, fostering the growth and nurturing of relationships with funding partners and successfully acquiring grants to support the organization’s mission and vision. Additionally, the Ecology Director manages the habitat management program and leads all habitat restoration projects, ensuring their successful implementation and alignment with Nature Collective’s ecological goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and monitor habitat restoration efforts and conservation strategies for sensitive species
• Write technical reports for grants and contracts
• Write grants to secure federal, state, or local funding
• Lead and manage the habitat management team
• Oversight of the native plant nursery and its expansion
• Build and steward collaborative relationships with funders, partners, organizational leadership, colleagues, and the public
• Collaborate effectively with other departments to ensure educational outreach opportunities are incorporated into Habitat Restoration projects
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws
• Lead, influence, motive, and coach up to 10 employees effectively
• Attend and collaborate in staff and leadership meetings
• Occasionally attend regional conferences and meetings

Qualifications

• A Master in Life Sciences (Ecology, Environmental Science, Botany, Biology, Fisheries, Forestry) is required, or 7-10 years of work experience
• Working knowledge of Southern California habitats, flora, and fauna
• Native plant identification skills and knowledge of Southern California plant communities
• Experience with field data collection and standard protocols (e.g., CNPS-Relevé & CRAM methods of sampling vegetation and habitats)
• Ability to work cooperatively with others to achieve organizational goals, mission and vision
• Experience and knowledge of statistical methods to analyze field-collected data
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to demonstrate the skill to secure federal, state, and local funding.
• Experience designing, implementing, monitoring, and reporting for large-scale habitat restoration projects
• Experience working for a nonprofit organization
• Experience supervising a team of up to 10 employees
• Ability to work with diverse backgrounds
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite
• Proficient in ArcGIS
• Must have a clean driving record
• Must possess a clean driving record.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English

Preferred Qualifications

• Qualified Applicator License or Certificate

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to complete arduous work in various climates, outdoor working environments, and working conditions.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 50 pounds
• Must be able to hike up to 3 miles on rugged and difficult terrain in outdoor environments.
• Must be able to work in water up to 5 feet in depth
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Ability to navigate independently to and around San Diego County project sites.